Maheno to honour decorated bomber command pilot

A North Otago community will honour one of its most remarkable wartime airmen this Anzac Day when a plaque commemorating Wing Commander James Fraser Barron is unveiled at the Maheno Memorial Cenotaph site.

The project has been organised by the New Zealand Remembrance Army Waitaki upon the request of the Maheno community.

A bronze plaque and ceramic photograph will recognise Barron’s service.

New Zealand Remembrance Army (NZRA) Waitaki regional co-ordinator Barry Gamble said the project was about making sure Barron’s story was remembered in the community where he grew up.

"Fraser Barron grew up in Maheno, and he went on to become one of the most highly decorated bomber pilots New Zealand produced during the war.

"This plaque is the community’s way of making sure his story is remembered here at home," he said. 

"With the assistance of Ross Philips, I was put in contact with the Lake family, who are Fraser Barron’s sisters’ relatives.

"NZRA fronted the project, and the family, with a representative from NZ Bomber Command, will take part in an unveiling ceremony in conjunction with the Maheno Anzac Day Service," Mr Gamble said.

NZRA were due to host the family on a visit of the Waitaki Boys’ High School Hall of Memories and an evening gathering at the Criterion Hotel on Friday, he said.

Crombie Monumentalists helped with the design of the plaque and its installation.    Others involved in the project were the RSA Poppy Trust, Archdeacon Bernard Wilkinson, April Hayes Dickson, Maheno School, the Lake family of Taupo and NZ Bomber Command.

Barron, known as Fraser, grew up in Maheno where his family owned the local grocery store.  He attended Maheno School before becoming a boarder at Waitaki Boys’ High School where he wrote aviation-themed stories for the school magazine. 

During World War 2, Barron joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force and was selected for bomber pilot training with the Royal Air Force (RAF) in Britain.

An exceptional pilot, Barron rose from Sergeant to Wing Commander in just two years, an extraordinary wartime achievement, Mr Gamble said. 

"He later joined the elite Pathfinder Force, the crews who flew ahead of the bomber stream to mark targets for the main bombing force.

"Barron eventually became their squadron commander and later served as master bomber, directing aircraft attacking the target below."

For his courage and leadership he received the Distinguished Service Order and Bar (DSO), the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Distinguished Flying Medal — a rare combination of decorations, Mr Gamble said. 

Barron was killed on operations while serving as master bomber, one of the most dangerous roles in Bomber Command.  He was 23.

Of the 125,000 men who served in RAF Bomber Command during the war, more than 55,000 were killed, one of the highest casualty rates of any Allied service.

Although Barron grew up in Maheno, his name does not appear on the Maheno memorial as his parents moved to Palmerston, Mr Gamble said. 

Archdeacon Wilkinson wanted Barron added to the plaque for WW2 Veterans at Maheno, he said.